ITANAGAR, Nov 04: The cash reward of Rs 2 lakh announced by the Arunachal Pradesh
Police for giving information or clue leading to arrest of the assailant/s of Tongam
Rina, Associate Editor of The Arunachal Times still stands. The identity of the informer/s
will be kept secret. The informer/s may contact Capital SP at tele. numbers : 09436040006

Five DNGC NCC cadets selected for pre-R-Day camp

ITANAGAR, Nov 04: Altogether 3 SD boys and 2 SW girls NCC cadets from DNG College,
Itanagar have been selected for the pre-RDC 2013 in the combined annual training
camp which concluded at Mangaldoi College, Assam on Nov 4 last. A total of 36 NCC
cadets (21 SD and 15 SW) from DNG college, took part in the ten days long camp conducted
by the 5 Assam Bn NCC under Tezpur group headquarter. The Cadet from 1 AP Bn NCC
unit Naharlagun led by under officers Tomo Taba and Nada Yaring of DNG College won
the 1st prize in group song, 2nd prize in group dance and Cadet Wangku Wangsu won
1st prize in drawing competition.

ITANAGAR, Nov 04: The All Arunachal Development Volunteer Association (AADVA) has
written to chief engineer RWD stating that even though office of agriculture development
officer at Sangram in Kurung Kumey was completed in the year 2010, it has not been
handed over to the concern department. The FCI godown/store was also completed in
2012.

Both the buildings were constructed under RWD, Laying Yangte division. The association
has called for handing over of the buildings to the concern department at the earliest.

UAEA reiterates demands

ITANAGAR, Nov 04: Unemployed Arunachalee Engineers’ Association (UAEA) (electrical)
has reiterated its demand for immediate re- advertisement of five JE (electro-mechanical)
posts in the department of hydro power development. The Association urged the hydro
power development department to follow the present recruitment rules and look into
its demand at the earliest and said that the matter should not create any misunderstanding
among the different unemployed engineering wings.

APSCW team visits Koloriang for legal awareness

KOLORIANG, Nov 04: A three-member team from Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for
Women led by its Chairperson Gumri Ringu recently visited Palin, Sangram and Koloriang
to create legal awareness among masses.

The team held awareness cum interaction program with the public, panchayat leaders,
gaon bura's, officers and NGOs at Koloriang on November 2.

Addressing the gathering, the APSCW Chairperson highlighted the role and activities
of the commission, which objective is to represent the rights of women in the country
and to raise voice against women atrocities.

She said that the suggestions given by the speakers will be pursued with the government.
APSCW member Meyo Taku emphasized on the women to do their best in every field and
also highlighted on the various laws and rules relating to women. Another member
Yapik Kulo spoke on Domestic Violence Act and its various features.

There were several speakers, who spoke on domestic violence, child marriage and bondage
labour.

Bomdila, Nov 4: As a part of its month-long Campaign to educate and create awareness
among villagers of the district on Safe drinking water and water quality monitoring
under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) cum Information Education and
Communication (IEC), a third phase of mass training programme on handling of Field
Test Kit (FTK) concluded on 4th November 2012 at Dirang under Dirang Block.

Addressing the gathering Assistant Engineer Tok Rana, spoke about water borne Diseases
and source of contamination of the water. Further he stressed on awareness cum education
among common mass to prevent contamination of sources and it sustainability for future.
Meantime he appealed the participant voluntarily come forward and availed such opportunity
for their respective society.

Addressing the mammoth gathering, District Consultant (PHED) Bomdila, Duter Taipodia
said “you cannot trust the tap from where you have been fetching water since last
20 to 30 years because contamination can take place anytime, anywhere and any moment”.
Meantime he gave the power point presentation on water borne diseases and how it
can be mitigated. Further, he detailed about the parameter to be checked and tested
before consuming the untreated water and appealed all the participants to practically
exercise the knowledge gained from the training programme for better health and for
better life.

Meanwhile the team led by District Consultants along with Lab-Assistants and Block
Coordinators manually demonstrated the trainees in practical session regarding FTK
and how amateur can monitor the Drinking Water Quality.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

112 days have passed. The culprits involved in the July 15 attack on The Arunachal
Times associate editor Tongam Rina are still at large.

Meanwhile, local MLA Tako Dabii, in a Fax message from Delhi asked the East Siang
Deputy Commissioner to provide immediate relief to the affected families.

Taking stock of the post accident situation, EAC Ainstein Koyu, said that the value
of properties lost/damage in the fire can be ascertained only after proper investigation
and assessment.

Local leaders and villagers have extended all help to the affected families by providing
food and shelter to the victims.

Ramle Banggo Welfare Society, Itanagar General Secretary Kayi Dabi while assuring
all possible help to the victims from the Society, appealed to the people to extend
their help in the process.

Meanwhile, Ramle Banggo Students Union (RBSU) deeply mourned the death of
Kadu in the fire mishap. It conveyed deep sense of condolence to bereaved family.

Further, the Union appealed to the East Siang district authority to provide immediate
relief assistance and compensation to the fire victims.

Tardy progress of highway works irks people

Correspondent

RUKSIN, Nov 04: The tardy progress of two-lane highway road construction works by
Border Road Organization (BRO) citing paucity of fund and technical reason is causing
a great deal of dissatisfaction among the people.

The commuters have been facing hardship due to slow-pace of reconstruction work of
the National Highway (NH-52) between Sille and Saatmail near Pasighat and Mebo and
Hawali as more than 30 km stretch of the highway in the district is yet to be reconstructed.

The BRO has completed a stretch of 11 km of the road from Ruksin to Sille and another
8 km near Pasighat town, while rest 15 km stretch remained in worn-out condition.
Same situation is also observed in Mebo subdivision, where the longer portion of
the hilly road between Mebo and Hawali is not yet touched by the BRO.

Though there was a proposal to divert about 15 km of the highway between Sille and
Saatmail, it was finally cancelled and reconstruction has started on the earlier
track.

Driving becomes almost impossible along the dilapidated portion of the road with
large potholes and deep ditches.

The highway passing along the Assam-Arunachal border is the lifeline to East Siang,
Upper Siang and parts of twin Dibang Valley districts as essential commodities to
those areas are transported through this route. It links North Assam with East Siang,
Upper Siang, twin Dibang Valley and Lohit districts ends at Sitapani junction near
Saikhowaghat of Tinsukia district in Upper Assam.

The vital highway link came up at the time of Chinese aggression in 1962, for transportation
and mobilization of security forces to the Indo-China border. But, even after five
decades, it has not been improved.

DA rushes relief to victims of factional fights

KHONSA, Nov 04: District Administration of Longding has taken immediate steps to
bring succour to all the families affected by NSCN factional clash in Ozakho village
and provided them basic necessities, like food, blankets, utensils etc.

A company of 4 Rajput Rifles, placed at Ozakho is trying to re-build the confidence
of the people.

The heinous act is being condemned by all the public and student union leaders of
Longding. DIPRO

ACF appeals for calm

Meanwhile, expressing shock over destruction of numerous houses and properties of
innocent Ozakho villagers in Longding district due to clashes between NSCN (IM) and
NSCN (K), Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) appealed to the leaderships of both the
warring groups not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the area.

While appealing for calm and restraint after the incident, ACF offered prayers to
the almighty to restore peace and harmony in the affected area. Meanwhile, representatives
from Wancho Baptist Churches Association (WBCA) and the Diocese of Miao today visited
the people and provided them with all necessary relief items. The ACF also contributed
few amounts to the affected villagers through WBCA.

More than hundred villagers of Ojakho, 15 km away from Chasa village in Tirap district,
were caught in Thursday's cross firing forcing them to flee for safety. Over 18 houses
were completely gutted in the incident.

The Speaker Rev Jackson B Atkins from USA, Dr Vijay Benedict of Mumbai and Dr. N.
Paphino, President NCRC shared the words of God with believers, who thronged the
park from various parts of state, and offered prayers.

The three-day programme also was marked by varieties of colourful cultural presentations
by the members of APCRCC. Attending the concluding session, Arunachal Pradesh Building
and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairman Jalley Sonam said, “Religion
is a sacred path to serve the downtrodden and poor people of the world without discouraging
other religions”.

Since India is a democratic and secular country, everyone has the equal right to
practice, maintain and promote their own religion, asserted Sonam, while highlighting
the major roles played by the Christian community in Arunachal Pradesh for the welfare
of society, particularly for the youths. Further, he informed that many youths are
devoting their selfless services as missionary and pastors for the greater interest
of society.

‘Anganwadi workers can play crucial role in HIV/AIDS prevention’

ITANAGAR, Nov 04: Deputy Director (IEC) of Arunachal Pradesh State Aids Control Society
(APSACS) Tashor Pali asked the Anganwadi Workers (AWW) to play crucial role in prevention
of HIV/AIDS by creating mass awareness at the grassroots level.

Addressing the Anganwadi members in an advocacy meeting at Naharlagun today, the
APSACS deputy director said that HIV/AIDS is a major challenge for every one of us.
Since there is no definite vaccine or medicine is invented so far to cure the communicable
disease, it can only be prevented by creating mass awareness on the disease, its
various modes of communication, Pali said. AWW members being the workers at grassroots
level can play a crucial role in creating HIV/AIDS awareness among the people living
at far flung areas of the state, he said. Any government policy and program can be
disseminated to the grassroots level with the active participation of the Self Help
Group and AWW members, Pali added.

Highligting the objective organasing HIV/AIDS awareness program, he asked the AWW
members to learn about HIV/AIDS so that they can equip themselves with HIV/AIDS awareness
to teach people at rural areas. He also asked the AWW members to disseminate information
on the services being provided at Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs)
and Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) to prevent and control of HIV/AIDS in the state.

Resource person of the program, Dr. Moli Basar, Medical Officer, ART Centre, Arunachal
State Hospital, highlighted the four routes of HIV/AIDS transmission and its preventive
measures. He called on the AWWs members to come forward and donate blood to the needy
people of the state.

Another resource person Toggul Gamno highlighted the basic of HIV/AIDS prevention
and transmission. She also spoke about the STI/RTI prevention and treatment.

Yumrin Nokpa, General Secretary of Arunachal Network of Positive people shared his
testimony and living positive life after tested positive for HIV. He also shared
his experience of living with the virus and social implication post HIV. He said,
he would dedicate his rest of life for the prevention of HIV so that others may not
face the situation he is facing now.

More than 100 AWWs members representing various blocks of the state attended the
program with the active cooperation from the Department of Social Welfare, Govt.
of Arunachal Pradesh.

‘The wish of the Literary Genius’

A Nostalgic Recollection

Tokong Pertin

Time does not remain constant… it has a realm and momentum to its swirl. It passes
away like a breeze that quivers one’s senses and has a lingering thought of what
could be. My thought exactly at this moment is of total despair because I know I
should have done something for the literary genius.

As I despair in my longing thought, I know I cannot turn back the clock and remedy
the situation but I can at least share one incident, which is impeccably imprinted
in my memory. It doesn’t even need a refreshing button, after all these years I still
remember the warm brotherly hug that I received and the soft spoken clear words of
the man himself speaking to me of what he wishes after he came to know that I am
an Adi youth from the present Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh.

Strolling down the memory-lane, I have come across the day it was Rongali Bihu celebration
in the year 1993 at Jairampur, Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. I was posted
as the Deputy Director Industries in Changlang in those days. When I came to know
about the Rongali Bihu Sanmelan and the Guest for the day, I had packed my bags and
was present at Jairampur at a go. At the first glance, when I met the man himself
with a larger than life image, Late Bhupen da, I remained speechless but all of a
sudden I found myself surrounded with a huge brotherly hug and thus, the wall of
feeling inferior came crumbling down. Such was the presence of this man, a man who
had fame and reputation to his stride but still a man with compassion and a very
earthy manner. I spent most of the event sitting and talking to him.

Many of you might have read his close relationship with Arunachal Pradesh. At a time
when there were no boundaries to divide the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,
the then NEFA (North Eastern Frontier Agency), part of the then Bor Asom, he was
born at a place near present Shantipur and Bolung village, present day Lower Dibang
Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. In his autobiography, he has described about
his place of birth and how Adi girls from the nearby Bolung village (in his autobiography
‘Moi eti jajabor’, Pg No. 5&6) used to come and take him out for playing. In the
same autobiography, he had also narrated an incident when he was about 9 months old
and was taken by the Adi girls to play and because it had become too dark, they couldn’t
bring him home for the night and how his parents had worried thinking of him to be
lost. He was bought back the next afternoon by the girls and his mother had questioned
the girls that his son was just a breast fed baby and what was he given while he
was hungry at night before. The girls had told that he was breast fed with milk by
various Adi mothers of Bolung village. Well! this was the incident that he narrated
to me while we spent the time together during the event and had told me that he wished
to visit Bolung village atleast once in his lifetime and wishes to pay his respect
to the Adi mothers of Bolung village who had fed him that one night and made him
an Arunachalee by blood. Further Dr. Hazarika disclosed that he was breasted by Adi
mothers of Bolung gaon and in times his mother used to scold him that he was as that
as sentimental like as that of Arunachalee tribal people. Perhaps due to this relation,
Dr. Hazarika has immortalized the mountains, hills, rivers and the people of Arunachal
Pradesh with his songs, to name a few like – ‘Siangore gallong, Lohitore khampti…’
‘Kotojawanor mrityu haal…’ ‘Tirap himanta rupahi nai anta…’ ‘Hamara Arunachal, hamara
Arunachal…’ etc. etc.

They say life is a never ending experience, you keep on learning the ways and truth
of life until your last breathe, and even then wisdom can never be attained on a
whimper or on a platter of gold. One needs to bow down to the residues of time and
search for the true meaning. Since time immemorial, the wise man speaks that time
and tide waits for none. I know now that if I had acted upon the wish and possibly
arranged a tour to Bolung, then I could have atleast made a worthy wish of a literary
giant come true. This is one moment I will regret in my life…but like they say life
is a circle, when you do good, good karma awaits you. Bhupen Da had not only touched
the life but it has touched the very soul of all the people of Arunachal Pradesh.

As the General Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society (APLS), I feel honoured
to inform that the APLS was instrumental in bringing the urn of ashes of the musical
maestro, Late Bhupen da to Arunachal Pradesh and immersing it in major rivers of
Arunachal Pradesh as he was deeply connected to the mountains, hills, rivers and
people of the State and as a respect for the man who found happiness in being just
the person he is, nothing superficial. The APLS had deputed a 20 member contingent
to participate in the last rites of Late Bhupen da which was later declared as the
State Delegation to attend the last rites at Jhalukbari, Guwahati. A pot containing
the ash of Late Dr. Bhupen Hazarika is under the safe-keeping of APLS for the future
generation of our State to know and never to forget that a man with love and respect
for this mystical place dwelt amongst us. The role of APLS is not immense as compared
to what Late Bhupen da did for our State and I dedicate this piece of literary inscription
to the literary genius of our region, Late Bhupen Da, who have genuinely made us
proud and whose legacy will ever remain imbibed in the history of the nation for
being a man of substance, a man who dreamt nothing less but only for love and peace
to prevail. We think we have forever but alas, we don’t. There will never be another
Bhupen Da, and time certainly has passed by. (The author is the General Secretary
of Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society and is presently holding the post of Director
Trade and Commerce, Government of Arunachal Pradesh).

Rainwater harvesting key towater crisis solution : DC

PASIGHAT, Nov 04: Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Mishra along with VN Pandey SE
WRD (GW) Itanagar and his associate engineers today inspected both the Rainwater
Storage Systems (48,000 Ltrs capacity) and also the ground water reservoir (20,000
ltr discharge P/H) installed at the General Hospital, Pasighat. The visiting SE informed
the DC that the systems were installed by the WRD under the 12th five years plan
and were funded by the central government to meet the water crisis in the hospital.

While appreciating the venture, the DC Mishra commented that conserving water is
an important way to protect the environment.

Rainwater harvesting system is an excellent way to provide clean and safe drinking
water. He advised that people should be made aware of importance of rainwater harvesting
as demand for water is growing in the city. The PHED has their own limitation to
provide drinking water to the growing urban populations, he said. The DC also
advised to conduct pre and post monsoon maintenance of the reservoirs to prevent
water borne diseases.

Mishra while talking about the groundwater irrigation system said it can play pivotal
role in agriculture sector. He said instead of MIC, groundwater irrigation system
should be developed and introduced effectively to welcome green revolution in the
flood prone East Siang district.

In his reply, the Superintendent Engineer VN Pandey informed that the government
is planning to provide thousands of subsidized hand-pumps and bore-wells in the districts
soon. DIPRO

In the quest of the Xiangshan Hills, 25km of north-west of Beijing, lie the
headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Third Department. The name
is innocuous, the purpose is not.

The rows of buildings and the vast compound are the lair of what one Indian Intelligence
official calls the Digital Dragon. This is the headquarters of China’s worldwide
cyber operations.

Two nations are prime targets in this complex, ongoing steps that seeks a continuous
stream of operation on many fronts, including business and utilities, as it prepares
for potential military conflict. They are the United States which China sees as both
partner and competitor, and its traditional Asian rival, India.

Fifty years after China inflicted Himalayan military defeat on India, the battlefield
may have gravitated towards digital frontier. If China goes to war with India, analysts
say, the opening salvos will not be fired of artillery and aircraft over to Himalayas
on the Tibetian plateau that looms over Indian defence in a 4000 km disputed boundary
arc between Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. It will come from the Third Department,
headed by Major General Meng Zhuezheng, a bespectacled avuncular technocrat with
receding hairline.

PLA’s cyber warriors sitting on computer could unleash crippling attack to paralyse
India’s power grid by targeting malware against operating systems, attack on communication
nodes by triggering off unseen ‘kill switches’, disrupt air traffic, power grid by
targeting the software that controls power plants and water treatment facilities
to ‘move like a knife through cheese’, as one undated Chinese propaganda video described
PLA’s rout of Indian Army in 1962.This new warfare, however, could well be what 6th
century B.C. Chinese strategist Sun Tzu call: “The art of fighting without fighting”.

The United States, a country far better to tackle such security threats than India,
sounded an alarm over two Chinese firms, Huawei and ZTE. The House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, in an October 8,2012 report said, they “cannot be trusted
to be free of foreign influence and pose a security threat to the United States and
our system”. The committee asked the U.S. Intelligence community to be “vigilant
and focused on this threat”. The report prepared after an 11 month probe, was the
severest indictment of the Chinese telecom firms yet, it established their ties with
Chinese military and government.’ It’s not just the U.S. In March this year, Australia
refused to allow Huawei to take part in a $38-billion broadband tender. The U.K says,
it is examining Huawei’s ties with British Telecom. This month, Canada cited national
security reason to ban Huawei from bidding in a contract for a secure communications
network. India’s Armed Forces and Intelligence agencies, which seldom see eye-to-eye,
have repeatedly red flagged Huawei Technologies and ZTE since 2007. Huawei Technologies
has captured 60 percent of India’s Telecom sector since its arrival in 2000 and is
headquartered in Gurgaon. Indian Telecom firms are unable to resist Huawei’s siren
call, its telecom hardware-router and switches and other hardware are 25% cheaper
than competitors. This is reflected in the balance sheets. Huawei’s net Indian sale
last years was $1.2 billion (Rs 6,447 crore). Indian agencies raised many warnings
against Huawei’s penetration to Indian telecom. Their worst fear is that Chinese
firm could be a Trojan Horse, meant to infiltrate India’s network in peace time and
disable it through remote ‘kill switches’ in war time, through hidden ‘trapdoors’
and malicious programs that could open back a channel to its designers.

What raised red flags were Huawei’s founder chairman Ren Zhenfei’s deep link with
the PLA’s Information Engineering Academy, part of the shadowy Third Department,
has continued his military connections. These concerns, have been repeatedly voiced
by intelligence agencies since 2007, were given to Home ministry, Telecom Ministry
and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), but were waved aside by dismissively byTelecom
Minister Kapil Sibal. Huawei, he said at a press conference in June 2011, had offered
its software architecture and design to the Ministry.

”There is nothing to fear,” said Sibal. His glib reassurance may have silenced the
Indian Intelligence Community in public, but not in private. A senior member of India’s
security establishment shrugs his shoulders and admits that the Government has had
to “balance economic considerations with security”. Huawei’s officials say such fears
are unfounded. “On the issue of security, we are part of the solution rather than
the problem,” says Suresh Rangarajan, the Huawei India spokesman. “We are the first
to offer the Indian Government our source codes that have actively co-operated with
the Government on all aspects”, he said. A Huawei statement said that Ren Zhenfei
retired from the Army decades back and has since independently established Huawei.
He owns only one percent shares and the rest ate owned by 65,000 employees through
a public trust.

One intelligence official says, Indian agencies lack equipment, knowhow or competence,
to read a complete chip and scan for installed trapdoors or malware.” Hence the suspicions
that hidden protocols will be executed when a chip is plugged into the Net,” he says.

In 2006, Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin coined a new word while asking the PLA to prepare
for future war. He called it war under condition of “informisation”, fighting jointly
and taking technology as a tool. China has invested bewildering array of new weapons,
such as anti-satellite missiles, coupled with stealthy cyber fist. These weapons,
designed to deter the US, have Indian planners worried.

The anxiety has triggered alarms of possible strikes against infrastructure. Just
how concern Government is, emerged during the July 31, 2012, power grid collapse
that affected over 600 million Indians. A team of experts from National Technical
Research organization (NTRO) that operates under National Security Advisor (NSA)
Shiv Shankar Menon, rushed to the National Load Despatch Centre in South Delhi to
establish whether it was a cyber-attack. It wasn’t, but it gave experts an idea of
what to expect in a military crisis.

“Cyber war is a grave threat because in the past few years, kinetic war has always
been preceded by cyber war.

• The March 2009 Ghost net attacks targeted Indian embassy computers; the PMO was
targeted on December 15, 2009, where an infected PDF document was sent to senior
PMO officials.

• A 2010 attack by suspected Chinese hackers targeted the NSA’s office, and computers
of Air Force and Navy top brass. In each case, it opened up several small windows
through which classified documents and presentation were whisked away.

On October 11 this year, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta called the Shamoon virus,
which attacked and destroyed 30,000 computers of Saudi Arabia’s oil firm Aramco,
“the most destructive ever to hit civilian commerce”. No computer is safe these days,
but Indians are too complacent. Officials routinely carry secret files home and do
not isolate secret computers. This laxity is rampant even in the armed forces.

Intelligence agencies say circumstantial evidence suggests that attacks originated
in China. The 2010 attacks were traced to a group of hackers in Chengdu. But the
diffused nature of the Net-the attacks are often bounded off third-country servers-make
it hard to pin point the brains behind the attack. Indian intelligence officials
believe the espionage is a bigger plan to scan India’s entire cyber network, building
up a database of vulnerabilities, and planting malware in the system.

Cyber espionage attacks on Indian computers have become persistent and increasingly
sophisticated. The Saburi virus, traced inside infected computers in India’s Ministry
of External Affairs (MEA) last year, was custom-designed to tap into encrypted diplomatic
messages sent by MEA to foreign diplomatic missions. Its creators state entities,
possibly within China, who obviously had the ability to decrypt these messages and
afford a price tag of over $ 4 million (Rs 25 crore) to write such a sophisticated
virus. An immediate outcome of the Saburi attack was, hundreds of South Block computers
had to be quarantined. Shivshankar Menon changed his email address after receiving
malware.

Is India prepared to tackle any kind of digital threat?

India has no unified command or cyber warfare policy. Its offensive and defensive
cyber warfare capabilities are scattered over ministries.

Army,Navy and Air Force each has small Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) reporting
to individual service chiefs. Defence Information Warfare Agency (DIWA) Under Director
General Intelligence Agency, who reports to the Defence Minister.

Most of the departments appoint freelance hackers or small team of trained cyber
warfare experts who hack into computers and networks both within and outside national
borders. But they don’t have any unified command and control and work at cross purposes.

Army, Navy and Air Force each has small cyber warfare teams. Intelligence Bureau
has its own team of hackers. Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Research and Analysis
Wing (R &AW) have a team of hackers. National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)
has a 20 men ‘Information Dominance Group’ team that conducts hacking operations.

DRDO meant to support the defence forces with development of cyber tools and cryptographic
technology now wants to get into active cyber operations.

On the other hand, the People’s Liberation Army drives China’s cyber warfare policy
through an army of over 130,000 cyber warriors.

The Fourth Department of GSD (4 PLA) is used for offensive cyber missions and attacks
while third Department of the GSD (3PLA) is used for protective missions.

Cyber battalions operate under the GSD where each is given various tasks ranging
from stealing military secrets, commercial espionage to hacking foreign networks.

India’s security establishment, of which Menon forms a critical part, has slowly
woken up to threat. An irony for a country where total software revenues are expected
to cross$ 87 billion (Rs 4.6 lakh crore) this year is that India is hopelessly dependent
upon foreign IT products, both software and hardware. It lacks indigenous software
and chips, to vital areas that would secure its cyber frontier.

Technically or political somewhere there is certain lack of will. India’s capacity
of cyber warfare is woefully scattered and inadequate. “We‘re also vulnerable, as
the lowest level of government- intelligence agencies foot soldiers- are also responsible
for cyber security,” says MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who has argued for a cyber-security
architecture under NSA.

“We need five lakh professionals to protect our cyberspace. We only have a small
fraction of this,” said J. Satyanarayana,secretary, department of IT. There is no
over- arching India’s cyber security policy, nor a single agency to police the Net.
The Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERN-IN) is the nodal agency for computer
attacks and operates under the Department of Telecommunication and IT. Its director
general, who is also India’s Chief information security officer, has just 40 personnel.
The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), tasked with protecting vital
cyber resources from attack has 90 staff.

Offensive and defensive computer warfare form wings within the very intelligence
agencies that have been faulted for not sharing data to avert terror attacks. The
Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), NTRO and Defence Intelligence
Agency function in vertical silos within the PMO, Home and defence ministries, scattered
between North and South Block, Sena Bhavan and the CGO complex. None of these cyber
warfare wings talks to each other. Operations between these agencies are so uncoordinated,
that, in one recent case, two agencies separately hacked into the same foreign military
website in a span of few days.

Capabilities like language skills are not developed because of such scattered resources.
India has no cyber expert fluent in Mandarin, and hence has little ability to penetrate
the Great Cyberwall of China. “Everything is in Chinese, passwords, commands, login,
responses…if you don’t know the language, you cannot get any information,” says an
intelligence official.

Speaking after releasing an Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis(IDSA) report
on cyber warfare challenges in May this year, Menon hinted that the government was
putting in place “capabilities and systems that will enable us to deal with anarchic
new world of constant, undeclared cyber-attack, counter attack and defence“. But
what his secretariat rolled out on October 16 was far from a cyber-command - a permanent
Joint Working Group of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and private
industry that will, over the years, build up India’s cyber protection and architecture.
The Government has appointed a special cyber security officer under the NSA, who
will coordinate among various intelligence agencies. Slow burn bureaucratic responses
to a complex fast-changing face of war. (The writer is a student of B.Tech, NIT-Arunachal
Pradesh)

Remembering Bhupen Hazarika

Pekba Ringu

I’m not a superstitious man. But whenever I contemplate about my past meetings with
the great maestro Late Bhupen Hazarika, I can’t help but think that the number ‘3’
has been very lucky for me.

I am a big fan of him. Like every Arunachalee of those bygone days, I too wanted
to meet him. My wish was granted in 1977. I was studying in Pasighat Higher secondary
school at that time. One day, during class hours we were informed all of a sudden
that Dr. Hazarika would be coming next week to Pasigaht to perform a show.

A huge wave of joy and excitement suddenly swept the whole school. And the wave didn’t
stop there. The entire Pasighat Township and its periphery were in its fold. Everybody
was agog about the visit. In fact, it was the topic of discussion.

The name Bhupen Hazarika used to have that effect on people of Arunachal in those
days.

During those days there were no TVs or CDs for recreation. Cinema halls were few
and were located only in big towns. The radio was the main source of entertainment.
The All India Radio (AIR) Dibrugarh used to air programs in local dialects for the
people of Arunachal.

That was the time when Arunachal was in need of a person who could guide and inspire
the young artists of that time as well as showcase its rich arts and culture to the
outside world. Bhupen Hazarika was the man who took up that Herculean responsibility
in addition to his numerous assignments in Assam and Mumbai.

In fact, Bhupenda was the unofficial cultural ambassador for Arunachal and the then
NEFA during those times.

It was he who composed the song ‘Hamara Arunachal’, previously our state song and
now, the anthem song of AAPSU. The first Arunachalee feature film ‘Mera dharam,meri
maa’ was directed by him. In addition, he sang and recorded duets with the famed
local artists of those times like Bengia Hemanta, Moge Doji and Jomnya Siram. The
Hazarika – Hemanta duet ‘Pada ngujige’ (We, both young boys) back in 1974 in Nyishi
was a big hit all over Arunachal at that time.

He visited every nook and corner of the state and sang with the local artists in
functions and encouraged them.

A yearly visit by Bhupenda to Arunachal was almost mandatory. As a matter of fact,
the legendary leader, late Daying Ering had said to Bhupenda once, “You don’t need
a pass to visit Arunachal. Because you are one of us.”

So it was only natural that the news of Bhupenda’s imminent visit to Pasighat created
an atmosphere of mass excitement and euphoria.

Finally, the day came when he arrived at Pasighat circuit house. The whole town was
abuzz with the news of his arrival. Everybody was waiting eagerly for the program
to begin.

The evening came and the much awaited show began in the town club. The auditorium
was jam-packed with the general public and who’s who of Pasighat.

Bhupenda started belting one melody after another. In between songs he would share
about his various experiences with the audience.

The audience sat simply mesmerized. They would laugh when Bhupenda laughed. And would
clap cheerily at the end of each and every song.

I still remember how everybody looked at him with love and admiration as he continued
singing. Amongst the various numbers which he sang on the stage, I particularly remember
the song - ‘We are in the same boat brother.’ It was a song on unity and universal
brotherhood. In other words, he tried to convey that Assam and Arunachal were actually
one.

Interestingly, the entire program was in Assamese. That was the period when Assamese
still was the connecting language of the state. In the NEFA days it was the medium
of instruction. Though the medium changed to English in the early seventies, Assamese
was still the language used in the meetings and functions including day to day dealings
of the people in the seventies. Assamese songs and the ‘Bihu’ dance were a part and
parcel of any cultural program.

As soon as the program ended, Bhupenda was surrounded by his admirers on stage. He
was showered with gifts. Packets of different sizes piled up on his lap as he sat
on a chair, profusely thanking every body. People shook hands with him as they took
his autograph. And he didn’t disappoint anyone.

I too took my chance. Though I got his autograph, I couldn’t talk to him much because
others were in line waiting for their turn. Besides, I was just a small kid then.
A photo with him was simply not possible. Because unlike the present times with its
profusion of cameras and mobile cameras, during those times a camera was a thing
of real luxury. Only a few collegians of J.N.College used to have a camera. It was
a simple Indian made camera called ‘Agfa click III’. And whoever had it used to flaunt
it proudly for the whole town to see.

Though I was very young at that time, one thing about Bhupenda didn’t fail to catch
my attention. As he was briskly signing autographs, the then DC of Pasighat Mrs.
P. Singh came to meet him on stage. She had also watched the entire show. I remember
there was smile on her face throughout the show. Undoubtedly, she was also a Bhupenda
fan.

Immediately Bhupenda had apologized to her for not able to get up and greet her as
because he was laden with the numerous packets on his lap. Madam Singh also graciously
smiled and said that it was perfectly all right and that she didn’t mind at all.
Later, like everybody else, she also took an autograph of Bhupenda.

That day I learned the true meaning of courtesy and humbleness from Bhupenda.

My second meeting with him was at Dumdum airport, Kolkata in the mid eighties.

By that time Arunachal was slowly waking up from its long slumber of illiteracy and
backwardness, thanks to the selfless efforts of the non-local (mainly Assamese) teachers
and officers. Though the NEFA like atmosphere was still there, it was fast disappearing.
Assamese was relegated to the backseat and it was no longer the connecting language
of the state. And Bhupenda’s visits to Arunachal became less frequent, probably due
to his busy schedule or the changing tastes of the Arunachalee public.

I was waiting in the Guwahati airport to catch a flight to Kolkata along with my
good friend Dr. Joram Nisa, presently Deputy Director Dental Wing. We both were studying
at Kolkata at that time.

As we were sitting in the security lounge waiting for our flight, the announcer announced
that the plane was ready now and asked everybody to board.

People made a rush towards the door for the tarmac. As we also moved towards the
door, suddenly I spotted Bhupenda in the rear silently waiting for his turn. He was
with Kalpana Lajmi, the renowned film director. But nobody noticed. Everybody was
scrambling towards the door.

I told Dr. Nisa and both of us hurried towards the crowd to meet Bhupenda. But by
the time we reached the gate, he had already disappeared. We searched for him in
the tarmac and in the passenger cabin. But he was nowhere to be seen. I guessed then
that he must be in the executive class. Since the executive class was closed for
the general class passengers, I decided to try my luck at Dumdum airport.

And I was really lucky this time. As we both alighted from the plane and made our
way to the baggage section, suddenly we saw him. He was standing in a corner along
with Lajmi waiting for his luggage to come through the conveyor belt.

Again nobody noticed him. Everybody was busy searching for their belongings.

Though I was a little apprehensive that he mightn’t like our unannounced intrusion,
we went and introduced ourselves. To our pleasant surprise, he didn’t mind at all.
He was rather pleased to know that we were from Arunachal.

He asked us from which part of Arunachal we belonged to and added that he too was
an Arunachalee. The late Daying Erring had also said once that Bhupen Hazarika had
Arunachalee blood in him.

There is reason behind the two statements. Bhupen Hazarika’s infancy was spent in
Sadiya where he was born in 1926. His father, Nilmoni Hazarika was working as a teacher
at the local M.E. school. It was the Adi ladies of nearby Bolung village (in Lower
Dibang valley district) who helped Bhupenda’s mother in taking care of the then baby
Bhupen.

Once they took him to their village. It is said that baby Bhupen was so cute looking
(he was 9 months old at that time) that the whole womenfolk of the village became
enamored of him. They sent him back home the next day only. When he was hungry, the
local women of the village breast fed her.

Hence, Bhupenda’s emotional attachment for Arunachal can be understood in this context.

This time also I was lucky, more or less. He obliged both of us with his autograph.
He even gave us his residential address of Kolkata and asked us to visit him.

But again I couldn’t take a photo with him for the simple reason that we didn’t have
a camera with us.

What moved me most about our second meeting was his generous offer before our parting.
As we shook hands and said goodbye, he offered to drop us in his vehicle.

I was really touched. But as our routes differed and it would’ve taken a long time
for him to drop us, I politely declined. Moreover, it would’ve been extremely selfish
on our part to advantage of his generous generosity.

To this day, I remember this magnanimous generosity of his to two unknown teenagers
from far flung Arunachal.

My wish of snapping a photo with Bhupenda was granted at last when I met him for
the third and last time.

That was in November 10th 2010.

An APLS team led by its President Y.D.Thongchi called on him at his Nijorapar residence
in Guwahati to felicitate him for his undying love for Arunachal and for his selfless
contribution towards the enrichment of Arunachali art and culture.

Though we arrived a little late, he didn’t mind at all. In the beginning of our meeting
he was a little serious, but within no time he opened up and started chatting and
laughing with all of us like long lost friends.

And in reality also, one of his old bosom friends, the veteran Arunachalee singer
Bengia Hemanta was in the group. Hemanta was with Bhupenda during the entire shooting
of the first Arunachali feature film ‘Mera dharam, meri maa’ in 1974.

During that time Bhupenda had camped for almost a month at Yazali IB. Hemanta had
also stayed in the same room with him and helped Bhupenda in every possible way during
that tenure.

It indeed was a rare sight watching both the old timers in deep conversation with
each other. My mind immediately went back to nostalgic retro mood. In my mind’s eye,
I could clearly visualize the duo, young and carefree, singing together ‘Pada ngujige.’

The entire meeting was filmed in the camera of the veteran journalist Taro Chatung.

When Chatung asked Bhupenda to say something for the people of Arunachal, he had
hesitated at first and had asked, “In which language should I say?” Though we all
said Assamese, interestingly, he spoke in English.

Somehow Bhupenda could sense the change that had taken place in Arunachal. It was
no longer like the NEFA days when Assamese was understood by everybody. When life
was good and simple minus the crime, corruption and pollution.

In his talk he had exhorted the Arunachalees to be bold and courageous in every field
and again sang that number of his which I had heard him singing when I had met him
for the first time in Pasighat way back in’77.

It was that song on universal brotherhood implying Assam-Arunachal unity, ‘We are
in the same boat brother.’

With the felicitation and conversation parts over, now it was time for photographs
and autographs. And I must say that he was really generous to all of us.

At last I fulfilled my fervent desire of taking a photograph with him in addition
to the bonus of more than 45 minutes of togetherness with him. And that’s why I consider
the number ‘3’ auspicious for me in respect to my meetings with him.

I remember Bhupenda smiling when I told him about it.

But the puzzling part of the meeting was Bhupenda’s autograph to me. I had specifically
asked him to write a word of advice.

But he had scribbled a message for the whole of Arunachal. It was in Assamese – ‘Hukhi
huwa Arunasol (May you always be happy Arunachal).

I was confused at first as to why he had written a general message in a private autograph.

My best guess is, he tried to convey his last wish for the place which he had loved
so much and had frequented so often in his youthful days. At that time, he was ailing
and knew that his time was short.

There was always a special corner in his heart for the people of Arunachal. His creative
masterpieces had mention of Arunachal and its people.

Kamal Kotoky, his PA cum guitarist had told us after the meeting that Bhupenda had
been really looking forward to meet us. In fact, it was he who had been waiting eagerly
for the Arunachalee delegation since early morning.

Later on, after his passing away last year on November 5th, I came to know that he
had very lovingly kept the statue of the ‘laughing Buddha’ which Thongchi had presented
while felicitating him.

It was with him in his bedroom. And it was with him in the Mumbai hospital where
he breathed his last.

With Bhupenda’s passing away, a beautiful and a golden chapter of Arunachal has passed
away, never to return. The good old NEFA days, the Assamese connection, life simple
and uncomplicated – probably these will never come back.

But it would do well for all of us to remember Bhupenda and his link with Arunachal,
at times.

Some past we need to forget. And some, we need to cherish in our hearts, always,
as long as we live.